The sun had risen without warning, like a call from fate. Kael opened his eyes with renewed energy, his heart pounding with anticipation. Today, he would officially join his assigned corps: the Dreads Corps, 9th Reconquest Brigade. He rose from his metal bed, stretched long and hard, then headed to the washroom to freshen up. The cold water shocked him awake, wiping away the lingering weariness of a restless night. As he dressed, he looked at his reflection in the mirror: his eyes burned with a fire he didn't yet understand. It was more than excitement. It was a feeling—one he couldn't ignore.
Minutes later, Kael crossed the inner courtyard of the barracks, his black uniform newly adjusted to his shoulders. He smiled, but that smile slowly faded as he caught the stares of the soldiers already gathered. Men and women with hardened expressions, brutal auras, and haunted eyes. Some bore scars across their faces, others fresh bandages. The air was thick—not with camaraderie, but with instinct. A jungle, and Kael was the prey.
A bald man with a deep scar slashing across his left eye crossed his arms and growled, locking eyes with Kael. "Who's this kid?" he barked loudly, without shame. "Doesn't look that strong… think he'll survive?"
Kael, frozen under their gazes, forced himself to step forward. He swallowed hard, summoned whatever courage he could, then gave a respectful bow. "I'm Kael Vox… Please take care of me."
A dry laugh echoed through the courtyard. Some turned away, indifferent. But that same man sneered, "Tch. A polite kid. Great. Maybe he can shine our boots after the battle."
At that exact moment, the side gates opened. A new presence filled the courtyard with quiet power. Declan stepped in first—tall, sharp like a drawn blade. Behind him came Naelys, calm, her eyes cold and unflinching. Then came the twin sisters, Nyra and Syla Thorne, moving in perfect sync. All four wore the black of the Dreads Corps, but their natural presence demanded attention.
Whispers stirred.
The scarred man stiffened. "Wait… I know them. They're Altaris…" His tone had changed. Gone was the sarcasm, replaced with caution.
Suddenly, silence swept over the group as a towering man entered the courtyard. His coat billowed in the breeze, and his hawk-like eyes scanned the soldiers. He wore thick black armor, bearing the blood-red emblem of a skull pierced by a black crescent—symbol of the Dreads Corps. All soldiers straightened at once.
"General Arkan Draeven!" a sergeant announced with a salute.
The general raised a hand to relax them. His sharp gaze fell on the recruits. "I hope you've all taken the time to get to know them. These young ones here…" he gestured to Kael, Naelys, Declan, and the twins, "...are your new comrades-in-arms."
A soldier raised a hand. "General… wasn't this supposed to be our rest week?"
The general slowly turned his head. His stare was ice. "Change of plans. We've got a mission. Tomorrow morning at dawn, we march on the ruins of Tharvos."
A ripple of shock passed through the group. Tharvos. The name itself felt cursed.
A young Black woman, her hair tied in tight braids, stepped forward confidently. "General, why are we taking Tharvos?"
Arkan crossed his arms. "Because we must. That city has been lost since the first Vorm invasions. Every attempt to reclaim it has ended in failure. But if we want to push the frontline and recover what we've lost, Tharvos is the key. Take it, and we push them back. Leave it, and we let them spread."
He paused, then added, "Brigades 1 through 5 will support us. But we—Brigade 9—are leading the charge. This mission is critical. And it's very possible… some of us won't come back."
Expressions darkened. Tension settled like dust. Even Kael felt the weight of those words. Yet within him, something stirred—a hunger to prove himself. A desire to rise.
The general's gaze landed on him. "So get ready. Tomorrow, you'll see what real battle is."
As the gathering ended, soldiers broke off—some in silence, others joking nervously. Kael remained still, eyes on the sky. His first day with the 9th Brigade had begun. And already, blood was calling.